baekley



(No Model.)

G. W. BARKLEY.

ANIMAL TRAP.

No. 330,668. Patented Nov. 1'7, 1885.

WITNESSES UNITED STATES PATENT FFIQEO CHARLES W. BARKLEY, OF SEWARD, NEBRASKA.

ANIMAL-TRAP.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 330,668, dated November 17, 1835.

Application filed August 22, 1884. Serial No. 141,210.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that I, CHARLES W. BARKLEY, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Seward, in the county of Seward and State of Nebraska, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Animal-Traps; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to letters or figures of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates. to certain new and useful improvements in rat-traps; and it consists more especially in the construction and combination of the parts, as will be 'hereinafter set forth, and pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings, which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a plan View showing the trap set in full lines, and sprung in dotted lines. Fig. 2 is asectional view,and Fig. 3 is a front View.

A represents a suitable frame, which consists, essentially, 'of two forwardly-diverging side pieces, A, and cross-pieces B B, said parts being rigidly connected to each other. The side pieces, AA, are recessed at their ends,

as shown at a a, for the reception of the ends of the spring-jaws. The central cross-piece, B, does not extend to the bottom or base of the side pieces, A, and is provided at a point above said side pieces with an upwardly-projecting portion having beveled sides, as shown in Fig. 1. To the under side of the cross-bar B is pivoted by means of staples b a platform, C, which is provided at its outer end with bait-. retaining means or books a. An undue tilting of this platform is prevented by a staple, b, which passes over the side bar or continuation of the journal by which the platform is secured to the cross-bar B. The rear portion of the platform 0 is provided with a transverse bar, 0, which serves as a catch forthe end of the pin which holds the jaws in an open position. Jaws D D, which are bent, as

shown in Fig. 1, at their rear ends, are pivoted to the upper edges of the side pieces, A A, by means of pins d. The front ends of the jaws are bent downwardly, so as to lie within the recesses a a, and are provided with serrations (No model.)

or teeth, as fully shown in Fig. 3. The rear portions of the jaws D D are connected to each other by a toggle-joint or links, D D, which are centrally pivoted to each other and to a sliding bar, E. This sliding barisflat'tened laterally at one end and bent downwardly to form a thumb-piece, e, and at the other end verti cally, as shown at e, a shoulder being formed at the point 6, against which shoulder bears a helical spring, F, the opposite end being securely attached to the rear portion of the cross-bar B, which crossbar is centrally provided with an opening, e, which serves as a guide for the sliding bar E, said bar being guided at its rear portion by the headed pins ff, which also serve as stops for the springjaws, by reason of the central portion of the toggle-joint abutting against the same. The forward portion of the sliding bar E has formed through the same a perforation, 9, within which hangs a catch or staple, G, which engages w th the catch 0 on the platform to hold the jaws in an open position. Afulcrum, h, which consists of a transverse bar, is secured to the front portion of the frame B by means of staples.

The operation of my invention is as follows: When it is desired to set the trap, the rod E is pushed forward. This movement compresses the spring and contracts or brings together the rear portions of the jaws, opening the forward ends of the same. The staple or catch will then drop, and when the platform is raised will engage with the bar a, secured to the rear portion thereof. The trap is released by the weight of the animal pressing upon the platform, which will cause the jaws to come together upon the animal. If desirable, the front portion of the trap may be provided with a suitable cover, so as to prevent the animal having access to the bait over the sides of the side pieces. Y

I claim 1. In an animal-trap, the combination of the frame A, constructed as described, jaws pivoted centrally thereon, a spring-bar located.

oted thereto and connected to each other by I a toggle-joint, a central sliding bar attached to said togglejoint and provided with aspring, and a catch for engaging with thepivoted baitcarrying platform, substantially as shown.

3. In an animal-trap. the diverging side pieces having a central and rear cross-bar rigidly attached thereto, the springjaws centrally pivoted on said side pieces and attached to a sliding rod which passes through and over the cross-bars, said sliding bar having at its front portion a pivoted catch adapted to engage with a catch attached to the rear portion of a bait-carrying platform, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

4. In an animal-trap of the class described, a bait-carrying platform pivoted to a crossbar, and provided with a bail or staple, b, for the pu'p )se of limiting the play of said platform, substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

5. In an animal-trap having spring-actuated jaws, a tilting platform, and retainingcatch,

the sliding bar E, pivoted to links operating 6. In an animal-trap, a frame consisting of 0 diverging side pieces, A A, cross-bars B B, the jaws D, connected at their rear ends to each other by links D, and pivoted on the side pieces, A, a sliding bar, E, attached to the links D, said sliding bar passing through a perforation in the front cross-bar and guided at its rear portion by pins ff, the spring F, catch G, and pivoted platform 0, the parts being combined and organized substantially as shown, and for the purpose set forth.

In testimony whereof I atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

CHARLES W. BARKLEY. Witnesses: B. F. NORVAL, T. L. NORVAL. 

